Cutting Pieces of Yourself | #57

By Armaan Athwal

Today's Overview:

• Sometimes growth means letting go

• Quote of the day

Cut to Grow

I came across a clip of Tom Hardy this week, and what he said has been replaying in my mind ever since. He was talking about growth, the messy and painful kind. He said, “Sometimes you’ve got to cut a little piece of yourself off, no matter how much it hurts, in order to grow.”

That hit me. Not in the usual motivational “you’ve got this” way, but in the kind of way that makes you pause and re-evaluate. Because we don’t like to talk about the painful side of growth.

We love the after photo, the success story, the clean break. But Hardy’s words cut deep and makes you realize what is needed for growth and real growth requires sacrifice.

I started thinking about the things that sometimes you must leave behind to move forward, like leaving a toxic environment even when the people are close to you.

Doing this you might not notice the change right away and instead feel pain for a while, but like an infection it can eventually destroy you.

Here’s the thing about “cutting a piece of yourself off.” It’s not always a toxic habit or an unhealthy relationship. Sometimes, it’s something you love. A hobby that doesn’t align with where you’re going. A routine that’s comforting but stagnant. A version of yourself you’ve clung to because letting it go feels like losing control.

Hardy’s point wasn’t just about sacrifice, it was about intentionality. What you let go of isn’t random. It’s precise. And yeah, it might feel like a part of you is missing, but that’s where the space for something new comes in.

I think we resist this because it feels unnatural. Why would we hurt ourselves to grow? But when you zoom out, nature does this all the time. Trees shed leaves to conserve energy for winter. Snakes molt to make room for their growing bodies. Even stars die, but their collapse creates the heaviest elements in the universe.

Here’s the clip, in case you want to see it for yourself:

It made me wonder: What’s the thing you’re holding on to that’s holding you back? Maybe it’s time to let it go—even if it stings.

Quote of the Day

“Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than hanging on.” - Eckhart Tolle